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鳓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳓lèChinese herring; shadg, 19 strokes, radical 鱼
鳓lèChinese herring (Ilisha elongata)unknown, 19 strokes, radical 鱼
鳓lèwhite herringunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鱼
鳓lèslender shadunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鱼
lè(le4) T4
  1. 1Chinese herring; shad
  2. 2Chinese herring (Ilisha elongata)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鳓(鰳)lè(le4)

The character 鳓 (lè) refers to a type of fish known as Chinese herring or shad, specifically Ilisha elongata. This fish is commonly found in Chinese waters and is noted for its slender body and culinary value, often featured in traditional dishes.

Strokes19Radical鱼
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, 鳓 (lè) is often used in traditional dishes, highlighting the importance of local fish in the diet and culture of coastal communities. This fish is sometimes featured in festivals celebrating the bounties of the sea.

Memory Tip

Think of 鳓 (lè) as a 'slender fish' with a long body (the top part of the character looks like a fish swimming). The radical 鳥 (bird) suggests that it is a creature from the water, and the sound 'lè' can remind you of the sound of waves lapping at the shore.

Meanings of 鳓

lè(le4)
1Chinese herring; shad
2Chinese herring (Ilisha elongata)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鳓

鳓Simplified
鰳Traditional
19Strokes
鱼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳓

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Podcast: 鳓

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AI Study Notes for 鳓

Usage Notes

This term is generally used in culinary contexts or discussions about marine life. A common mistake is to confuse it with other fish names; make sure to use it specifically when referring to Chinese herring. Note that it is more formal and specific than just saying 'fish' (鱼, yú).

HSK Study Tips

While 鳓 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 3 and 4 vocabulary related to food and animals. Students should focus on understanding terms relating to aquatic life to better appreciate regional dishes and culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳓 (lè) with 鱼 (yú), which means 'fish' in general. Remember that 鳓 is a specific type of fish, not a generic term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳓

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Etymology of 鳓

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)鱼
+
Phonetic (sound)勒
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鳓

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half勒 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鳓? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鳓?

Decomposition of 鳓

IDS Structure⿰鱼勒
鳓Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
勒le4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳓?

How to say Chinese herring; shad in Chinese

“Chinese herring; shad” in Chinese is鳓lè

The character 鳓 (lè) refers to a type of fish known as Chinese herring or shad, specifically Ilisha elongata. This fish is commonly found in Chinese waters and is noted for its slender body and culinary value, often featured in traditional dishes.

When to use 鳓

This term is generally used in culinary contexts or discussions about marine life. A common mistake is to confuse it with other fish names; make sure to use it specifically when referring to Chinese herring. Note that it is more formal and specific than just saying 'fish' (鱼, yú).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳓 (lè) with 鱼 (yú), which means 'fish' in general. Remember that 鳓 is a specific type of fish, not a generic term.

Write 鳓

鳓

Practice writing 鳓 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鳓

Words Containing This Character1
鳓lèwhite herring鰳
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鳓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳓

鳓 (lè) refers specifically to the Chinese herring or shad, known for its slender shape.

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Not sure what to learn after 鳓?

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